For this, the final Wednesday of National Poetry Month, I’ve decided to go with one of my favorite poems from a contemporary poet. Billy Collins is clever and relevant and perfect to read aloud–partly because the meter lends itself to oration and partly because he’s wicked funny and may be your only chance to makeContinue reading

I’m always happy when National Poetry Month comes along.  It’s easy to forget about poetry in our busy lives, in our busy world. We don’t seem to forget to read novels or newspapers or works of popular culture or history. We don’t forget to read about nature or to study recipes. But I do forgetContinue reading

I Thought You Were Dead, by Pete Nelson, is on sale now. Independent booksellers across the country have been reading and recommending this new novel, and we are so excited that it is the #1 Indie Next Pick for the month of April. BookPage says: “Ultimately, I Thought You Were Dead is about the catastrophesContinue reading

The Emperor of Ice Cream by Wallace Stevens Call the roller of big cigars, The muscular one, and bid him whip In kitchen cups concupiscent curds. Let the wenches dawdle in such dress As they are used to wear, and let the boys Bring flowers in last month’s newspapers. Let be be finale of seem.Continue reading

I admit it: I love a great villain. A knowledgeable writer goes beyond the sometimes bombastic, destructive wake of a villain, provides opportunities for the character to change – or adamantly refuse to change – then peels away the character’s veil to reveal a small, vulnerable, pathetic person. In Kevin Wilson’s keen and meticulously writtenContinue reading

April is National Poetry Month! Begun in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month was set up to promote the continued reading, writing, and appreciation of poetry. On their website, you can sign up to receive a Poem-a-Day in your e-mail for the month, check out poetry-related events near you, and evenContinue reading